, 1887-01-21
A CHOIR-SINGER.

HF 49, tN.N - NaAfFAa Hf~
Marie Prot, try as she might, could find
only one side to the question of her en-
gagement oSydney Worth; and that, I'M
fortunately for the lover. was the mega
tive side.
Sydney, on his part, being a man, was
logical enough to take in all the bear
ings of the case, and yet heroic enough
to await Marie's decision with a our
age worthy of a cause more sublime
than the yea or nay of n ~brown-eyed girl.
In this trembling balance, however, was
hung this hope of all earthly happiness.
while he smoked his cigar and talked
and walked about the world as usual.
Take a week, only a week, for calm
consideration" he had begged her, and
then proceeded to enhance her calmness
by daily letters of urgent pleading. His
eegerness harassed and worried Marie
into a state almost of resentment, and
took from her much Of the responsibility
Of her final action. 1t gave her some
thing to fight against, and armed her
with necessary firmness. Whereas, If
he had thrown himself completely and
helplessly on her mercy. she would have
found it doubly hard to wiring his heart
by her decided refusal; but she would
have wrung it, all the same.
When her letter came at last, poor
Sydney kissed the dagger before he re-
ceived its stab-that is, he kissed her
handwriting, and hen very likely a few
moments later dropped a tear or two in
the same spot. But the letter was
folded and put away, as such letters and
such poor and broken hopes are being
folded and put away all over the world
to-day and every day, and Sydney went
about his business astonished and mis-
cradle at the heavy weight of his disap-
pointment.
But the days and years went OH; sgd
ney sat at his desk and made money,
and Marie sang in her church and gave
music lessons, losing her youthful beauty
somewhat, but gaining always in grace
and attractiveness. She and Sydney
met occasionally as friends, and his eyes
still told the same old story hat was
now forbidden of all other expression.
As for Miss Prot, she met the usual X
p%erience that falls to the lot of talented
and gracious She had hosts of
icib Iuit' III aiiu VI hoihii
ers, and always one or two ardent low
ers who were much in the same case rs
Sydney himself-for it would seem even
to the most interested observer that
Miss Pirot's being, musical and harmo-
NOUS as it was, had never yet responded
to the master chord of all-the chord of
Love
But at last, when the keynote of
Marie's destiny was struck, and its flood
of melody came pouring into her life
like an overwhelming tide, neither the
alto on n side of her, nor the bass on
the other, nor ever the organist. Lucy
Crumm, who was her bosom friend,
guessed that anything unusual had hap
pened.
1t came about in this very m
place way. Old Brande, the regular
tenor, was absent, for the first time in
seven years, for the Tuesday night re-
hearsal. The choir had assembled, and
stood about, waiting and wondering,
and comforting on Mr.. Brande's position
apart from all other tenors on record by
the genuine surprise at his delinquency,
when there came suddenly up the choir
staircase n tall and slim young man.
very fair. with plenty of flowing blonde
hair that hung in student fashion on his
broad white collar. He spoke with a
foreign accent, in a high musical voice,
addressing Miss Prot, who happened to
be nearest to him, as he approached the
organ.
MIR. Brandt has sent me to sing-he
is too much ill for this night, and also
for Sunday, he thinks. But if it is pleas
ing. | sing his part for all
Miss Prot only bowed and smiled, but
did not speak. There was good reason
for her silence. She had fallen in love
with this young man, of whose existence
she had been aware three seconds! 1t is
not to be wondered at that, in the CON
fusion of her senses, she had, for the
moment, mislaid her voice.
$50 very glad" said Lucy Crumm, all
animation, and treasured on the score of
the quartette; "but 80 very sorry to hear
Mr.. Brande is ill. Nothing serious,
we should manage. You read, l sup
poser Mr.. Aiken, will you please hand
thanks. We intended to rehearse this
quartette. All along here is Mr.. Brande's
part-the t%enor's; the bass comes in next
below; but, of course, you understand
"Oh, yes-yes."
lie was already humming through the
bars of the music she had placed in his
hand. like one sure OF his ground.
Miss PROT"
Miss Prot started visibly, then walked
/ AxaT .pigllxF m har tlnga With "a bafrht
ened color. When had she ever before
needed a to duty No one
appeared to notice her embarrassment,
for all eyes were now fixed on the open
book, and Miss Crumm's strong fingers
were pressing the keys.
"Of course | shall be glad when deai
old Brande is well enough to COME
back again. but l shall awfully hate tc
lose What s. his-namey" Miss Crumm was
observing. leaning on Miss Pirot's arm,
as the came down the choir-steps on,
lovely Sunday morning, having sung
themselves into heaven for a while OF
Haydn's exquisite strains. "Wayzel-
Wetzelf how do you pronounce il. Iii,
first name is Gustave-isn't 1t pretty
and such "A voicel Dear me. | grudge tC
let him gol Don't you"
"Yes."
"Do YOU know, | think he has rather
a struggle to get along. Musicians usu'
ally have; but, then, being a single man,
he ought to be able to manage"
Are you sure he is n single MANI
Miss Prot asked, in an airy tone.
"Oh. yes. At least, OF course, l die
not ask him point blank, but ! said t.
him, jokingly, that il he intended to ad